Ferguson targets Diarra as cover for injured Hargreaves

Manchester United have targeted Portsmouth's £12million-rated midfielder Lassana Diarra as a replacement for Owen Hargreaves, who is in America for a knee operation.

Wanted man: Portsmouth's Lassana Diarra

Sir Alex Ferguson's interest will put him in direct competition with his Manchester City counterpart Mark Hughes, who also has the France player on his January shopping list.

Tottenham's Harry Redknapp would also like Diarra but is unlikely to be able to afford him.

Ferguson has been a long-time admirer of FA Cup winner Diarra. Although the United boss usually prefers to do his major transfer business in the summer, the prospect of playing most of the season without Hargreaves has prompted him to ask the board if he can spend in January.

One casualty could be Carlos Tevez as United need to find £32m to sign him permanently.

Hargreaves, 27, is in Colorado preparing for an operation with world-renowned surgeon Richard Steadman.

The England man has struggled with tendinitis since he joined United from Bayern Munich for £17m in 2007.

United had hoped to treat the injury with injections but have abandoned that idea, as revealed in The Mail on Sunday last week.